Multiple position switch operator



April 19, 1966 H. E, SWANSON ETAL, 3,246,530

MULTIPLE POSITION SWITCH OPERATOR Filed June 2, 1964 .3 Sheets-Sheet l llllll INVENTOR5 Jiazuamf 217400725072, BY Geo/ye Elma/6,

April 19, 1966 H. E. SWANSON ETAL 3,246,530

MULTIPLE POSITION SWITCH OPERATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2, 1964 1 I I 1 J m I I I I I/ I} ll '1 I I l I INVENTOR5 fiozz/czrdlafwarziozz, BY Georgailwk, MM @-mDfiPM April 19, 1966 H. E. SWANSON ETAL 3,

MULTIPLE POSITION SWITCH OPERATOR Filed June 2, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet. 5

INVENTORS flozz/ardi fuzz/250m, BY George E. La /o,

United States Patentf) ice 3,246,530 7 v MULTIPLE POSITION SWITCH OPERATOR Howard E. Swanson, Chicago, and George E. Lusk,

Downers Grove, Ill.,'assignors to G & W Electric Specialty Company, Blue Island, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 2, 1964, Ser. No. 371,951 7 Claims. (Cl. 74'-112) The invention relates to multiple position switch operators and has reference more particularly to operators of thetype which are capable of operation in either direction, and which have snap action from various angular positions to the next angular position, respectively, for performing the switching operations.

It is desirable from the standpoint of safety of the switchman to provide a mechanical operator for actuating high voltage electric switches. Once the switchman has stored the necessary energy in the device to perform a switching operation, the mechanical operator will complete the actual current interruption, and at the desired rate of speed, regardless of any additional action on the part of the switchman. Furthermore, once the mechanical switch operator takes over the switching operation, the switchman cannot slow down, stop or reverse the action. A switch operator capable of functioning in this manner is said to be trip free.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanical switch operator which will have multiple switch operating positions Within a full revolution ineither direction, and wherein the various positions are determined by slidable latching fingers having latching and releasing action with respect to stops provided by a stop plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple switch operator which will be trip free, which will incorporate a rotatable latching member adapted to be rotated with snap action by means of a cocking lever "and an interposed coil spring, and wherein said latching member carries at least one slidable latching finger which is released automatically by the cocking lever when said lever is rotated in a direction to have camming action with the slidable finger.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanical switch operator which will include a rotatable latching member, a rotatable cocking lever and at 'least one coil spring as energy means interposed between the member and the lever, and wherein the cooking lever will function as a camming element for camrnng the slidable latching fingers carried by the latching member intoa release position at the desired times.

struction and operation as will be more fully described and particul aly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended thereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts FIGURE 1 is a front plan view of a multiple position switch opera-tor embodying the improvements of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the multiple position switch operator of FIGURE 1 taken substantially along line 2-2- of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front pl'an view of the multiple position switch operator of FIGURE 1 but showing the cooking lever in a cocked position just prior to release of one of the slidable latching fingers;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the multiple position switch operator of FIGURE 1' taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view showing the various 2,246,530 Patented Apr. 19, 1966 elements of the present switch operator in perspective.

I The embodiment selected for illustrating the invention basically includes a base plate 10 having openings such as 11 therein for fixedly securing the switch operator to the housing of switch mechanism, the operating shaft of which is to be actuated by the switch operator. The base plate 10 carries the stop plate 12, FIGURE 4, which is actually in the form of a ring or annulus and which .is fixed to the base plate by means of the nut and bolt fastening means 13 and 14. It will be observed thatthe stop plate 12 is spaced a short distance from the base plate 10 by means of the spacing washers 15. In accordance with the invention the stop plate is provided with'notches 16, 17, 18, 19, 2t) and 2-1 which proride the holding stops for slidable latching fingers to be presently described. Also, as shown in FIGURES l and 3' the stop plate 12 and associated mechanism is enclosed within a cover 22, the said covering having integral tabs such" as 23. The tabs are adapted to be secured to the base plate 10 by means of the rivets 24 or other suitable fastening means, and in this manner the cover is held in place.

The operating elements of the present switch operator essentially consist of the rotatable cocking lever 28 and the rotatable latching member 30. Considering first the rotatable latching member 30, it will be observed from FIGURE 5 that said member is U-s-haped in form so as to provide a base part 31 and a tongue 32. The base part of the latching member is fixed at 33, FIGURE 4, to the central hub member 34 which telescopes the operating shaft 36 and is non-rotatably held by the pin '35 to the operating shaft 36 of the switch mechanism. Since the hub member 34 is adapted to rotate, a bushing element 37 is interposed between the member and the base plate 10. The tongue 32 of the rotatable latching member 30 is operatively supported by the actuating shaft 38 and ina manner which journals the tongue for 'free and independent rotation on the said shaft. The tongue is retained on the inner terminal end of the shaft 38 by the retaining washer 39. The shaft is mounted for rotation in the cover 22 and to facilitate said rotation of the shaft the bushing 40 is provided.

The cocking lever 28 also has a U-shaped formation which provides a cammin-g section 41 and a tongue 42. The section 41 is journalled for free rotation in the hub member 34 by means of the stub shaft 43 and the bushing 44. The tongue is in turn fixed at 45 to the shaft 38. Thus actuation of the shaft 38 to cause the same to rotate in one direction and then in a reverse direction, will accordingly produce rotation of the cocking lever 28 to render operative the camming surfaces 46 and 47 liormed on the camming section 41 of the lever.

Slidable fingers indicated by numerals 50 and 51 are adapted to coact with the notches in the stop plate 12 and in order that the base part 3-1 of the rotatable latching member may carry the slidable fingers, the said base part is provided with slots 52 on respective sides of the center of rotation. The lingers are located on the back side of the latching member in alignment with the slots and the retaining plates 53 and 54 are respectively located on the front side, also in alignment with the slots. A spacing plate 59 is located in each slot and each plate isless in length than its slot so as to permit sliding movement thereof within the slot. One or more rivets such as 55 may be employed for fixedly joining together each finger, its spacing plate and its retaining plate, whereby the combination functions as a unit having slidable movement along a diameter of the stop plate 12 and to an extent as permitted by the spacing plates within the slots 52. Each slidable finger unit carries a camming roller such as roller 56 for the left hand unit formed by the finger 50 and retaining plate 53, and roller 57 for 3 the right hand unit formed by .the finger 51 and retaining plate 54. When the cocking lever is rotated the camming surfaces 46 and 47 are caused to engage the rollers 56 and 57, respectively, and thus the fingers are withdrawn from the notches in the stop plate.

The slidable finger units are resiliently biased into an outward locking position by the coil springs 58 and 60. Each coil spring is located within its respective slot 52 and each coil spring is confined between a wall of the base plate 31 and its particular spacing plate 59. The spacing plates function as stops limiting movement of the fingers 50 and 51. The respective ends of each of the coil springs 58 and 60 are positioned by the tabs 6'1.

The energy for elfecting rotation of the latching member is stored in a coil spring 62 interposed between the cocking lever 28 and the latching member 30. The coil spring is carried by a rod 63- whichprovides a slidable seat member 64 and a fixed seat member 65' at respective ends for seating the coil spring. At the end adjacent the seat member 64, the base part 66 is slidable on the rod 63 and said base part seats on the cocking lever with its protruding end extending through the enlarged opening 67. This enlarged opening permits angular movement of the base part 66 while still maintaining a connection as regards the pin 63 and the cocking lever 28.

The end of the rod 63 opposite the base part 66 projects through the opening 68 provided in the latching member 30 and the rod is retained in operative position by means of the pin 70. The opening 68 is somewhat larger than the diameter of the rod 63 so as to permit angular movement of said rod against the holding action of the pin and which will take place when the cocking lever is oscillated.

FIGURE 1 indicates a normal position of the parts of the present switch operator wherein both latching fingers 50 and 51 project into the diametrically opposed notches 16 and 19. As a result, the latching member 30 is held against movement in a counterclockwise dire-ction by the latching finger 50, and in a clockwise direction by the latching finger 51. With the latching member 30 in the position of FIGURE 1 it will be assumed that the switch operating shaft 36 has been so indexed that the contacts of the switch mechanism are open. With the switch contacts open, the next actuation of the switch operator will eifect a closing of the said switch contacts and for this purpose the shaft 38 may be rotated counterclockwise to rotate the cocking lever 28 as shown in FIGURE 3. This rotary movement of the cocking lever 28 accomplishes two objectives which take place simultaneously. The camming surface 46 is caused to contact the camming roller 56 to effect a withdrawing action of the finger S0. The rotary movement of the cocking lever also produces movement of the base part 66 downwardly on the rod 63 and thus the coil spring 62 is additionally compressed and energy is stored in the same.

Eventually the rotary movement of the cocking lever 28 will be sufiicient to withdraw the finger 50 from the notch 16, thus releasing the latching member 30 for movement in a counter-clockwise direction. Movement of the latching member in this direction immediately takes place as a result of the toggle action on the latching member due to the energy stored in the coil spring 62. The latching member will thus rotate for 60 since the latching finger 50, having been released from contact with the cocking lever, is free to drop into the notch 17, and with lever 51 entering the notch2tl the latching member is again held against movement in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction. This angular rotation of the latching member from its horizontal position as shown in FIGURE 1 to an angular position approximately 60 in a counterclockwise direction will be sufiicient to close the contacts of the switch mechanism.

In the event it is desired to close the contacts of the switch by rotating the latching member in a clockwise direction, it will be understood that the cocking lever 28 can be oscillated clockwise so that camming surface 47 has camming action against the roller 57. Energy is stored in the coil spring 62 in a manner similar to that as explained, and simultaneously therewith the latching finger 51 is withdrawn from notch 19. Eventually the finger is released from the notch and the toggle action of the coil spring 62 will effect rotation of the latchlatching finger "51 will engage in the notch 18 and latching finger will engage in notch 2-1.

By actuating the shaft 38 the cocking lever 28 can be oscillated to in turn cam the rollers either 56 or 57. The function of the cocking lever is two-fold. First the lever will cam one of the rollers to gradually withdraw one of the latching fingers and secondly the cocking lever will cock and compress the coilspring 62. These operations complete the act-ion on the part of the switchman since when the latching finger is finally withdrawn the latching member 30 is released and closing of the switch contacts or opening of said contacts takes place automatically and without further action by the switchman. The operation is thus trip free and the energy stored in the coil spring 62 is entirely adequate to rotate the released member 30 with a rapid snap action for either closing or opening the contacts of the switch mechanism.

In the event the switch contacts should stick due to rusting or the like, the action of the cocking lever 28 on the latching member 39 is such as to give a direct mechanical push to the latching member to thus assist the toggle action. Referring again to FIGURE 3 and assuming that the cocking lever has been rotated as shown for opening the switch contacts, then it will be observed that the full rotation of the cocking lever will bring the straight edge 72 of the lever into direct contact with the roller 56. Any further rotation of the cooking lever in this counterclockwise direction will give a direct mechanical push to the latching lever to rotate the same, and upon such initial rotation taking place the toggle thereupon takes over and completes the opening action of the switch blades.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as various other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a multiple position switch operator, the combination with a rotatable shaft for actuating electric switch mechanism, of a stop plate in associated relation with the shaft and which provides a plurality of notches in a circular path with respect to the shaft as an axis of rotation, a latching member fixed to the shaft and disposed relatively adjacent the circular path, at least one latching finger slidably carried by the latching member and normally engaging one of the notches whereby the member is held in a latched position, a cocking lever adapted to have rotary movements on the same axis of rotation as the shaft, power means interposed between the cocking lever and the latching member said power means being eflective to cause rotation of the latching member when energy is stored in the power means by rotation of the cocking lever and means provided by the cocking lever for camming the latching finger to etfect release of the finger from its engaged notch as a result of rotation of the cocking lever to a predetermined extent for storing energy in the power means, whereby the latching member and said shaft is caused to rotate.

2. In a multiple position switch operator, the combination with a rotatable shaft for actuating electric switch mechanism, of a stop plate in the form of a ring having associated relation with the shaft, said stop plate providing a plurality of spaced notches in a circular path with respect to the shaft as an axis of rotation, a latching member fixed to the shaft and disposed relatively adjacent the circular path, a pair of latching fingers slidably carried by the latching member so as to be disposed approximately diametrically of the stop plate, said latching fingers normally engaging notches in the stop plate whereby the member is held in a latched position, a cocking lever adapted to have rotary movements on the same axis of rotation as the shaft, power means interposed between the cocking lever and the latching member, said power means being effective to cause rotation of the latching member when energy is stored in the power means by rotation of the cocking lever, and means provided by the cocking lever for camming a latching finger to effect release of the finger from its engaged notch as the result of rotation of the cocking lever in a certain direction for storing energy in the power means, whereby the latching member and said shaft are caused to rotate.

3. In a multiple position switch operator as defined by claim 2, wherein the means provided by the cocking lever for camming the latching fingers includes camming surfaces on the cocking lever on respective sides thereof, and a camming roller carried by each of the latching fingers.

4. In a multiple position switch operator as defined by claim 2 wherein said power means includes a coil spring, a rod having seat members thereon for seating the respective ends of the coil spring, a base part slidable on the rod at one end and being located beyond the seat member at said end, said base part having a loose operative connection with the cocking lever, and the opposite end of the rod having a pivotal connection with the latching member.

5. In a multiple position switch operator the combination with a rotatable shaft for actuating electric switch mechanism, of a stop plate in the form of a ring having associated relation with the shaft, said stop plate providing a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed notches spaced in a circular path with respect to the shaft as an axis of rotation, a latching member fixed to the shaft and disposed relatively adjacent the circular path, a pair of latching fingers slidably carried by the latching member and located on respective sides of said axis of rotation, means resiliently biasing each latching finger in an outward direction whereby the fingers normally engage certain notches to hold the member in a latched position, a cocking lever, mean; mounting said lever so that the same has rotary movement on the same axis of rotation as the shaft, power means interposed between the cocking lever and latching member and capable of effecting toggle action on the latching member, said power means producing rotation of the latching member when energy is stored in the power means by rotation of the cocking lever, and means provided by the cocking lever for camming one of the latching fingers to effect release of the finger from its engaged notch as a result of rotation of the cocking lever in a certain direction and to a predetermined extent for storing energy in the power means, whereby the latching member and said shaft are caused to rotate.

6. In a multiple position switch operator as defined by claim 5 wherein the means provided by the cocking lever for camming the latching finger includes camming surfaces on respective sides of the cocking lever, and a camming roller carried by each of the latching fingers.

7. In a multiple switch operator as defined by claim 5, wherein said power means includes a coil spring, a rod having seat members thereon for seating the respective ends of the coil spring, a base part slidable on the rod at one end and being located beyond the seat member at said end, said base part having a loose operative connection with the cocking lever, and the opposite end of the rod having a pivotal connection with the latching member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,177,732 4/1965 Swanson et al. 74-565 BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A MULTIPLE POSITION SWITCH OPERATOR, THE COMBINATION WITH A ROTATABLE SHAFT FOR ACTUATING ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM, OF A STOP PLATE IN ASSOCIATED RELATION WITH THE SHAFT AND WHICH PROVIDES A PLURALITY OF NOTCHES IN A CIRCULAR PATH WITH RESPECT TO THE SHAFT AS AN AXIS OF ROTATION, A LATCHING MEMBER FIXED TO THE SHAFT AND DISPOSED RELATIVELY ADJACENT THE CIRCULAR PATH, AT LEAST ONE LATCHING FINGER SLIDABLY CARRIED BY THE LATCHING MEMBER AND NORMALLY ENGAGING ONE OF THE NOTCHES WHEREBY THE MEMBER IS HELD IN A LATCHED POSITION, A COCKING LEVER ADAPTED TO HAVE ROTARY MOVEMENTS ON THE SAME AXIS OF ROTATION AS THE SHAFT, POWER MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE COCKING LEVER AND THE LATCHING MEMBER SAID POWER MEANS BEING EFFECTIVE TO CAUSE ROTATION OF THE LATCHING MEMBER WHEN ENERGY IS STORED IN THE POWER MEANS BY ROTATION OF THE COCKING LEVER AND MEANS PROVIDED BY THE COCKING LEVER FOR CAMMING THE LATCHING FINGER TO EFFECT RELEASE OF THE FINGER FROM ITS ENGAGED NOTCH AS A RESULT OF ROTATION OF 